Barcelona is a football club in continual crisis at the moment, and, largely, it doesn’t relate to what has been happening on the pitch.
Josep Maria Bartomeu, the club’s president, is hugely unpopular with many supporters and there’s been efforts to get rid of him even before the upcoming presidential elections.
The latest issue relates to wage cuts players have been asked to take. Covid-19 has had a huge impact on football clubs around the world, and Barca’s finances weren’t great before the pandemic struck.
Friday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo covers the situation, and reveals the players to have refused a new deal. Earlier this week it was announced Marc-André ter Stegen, Gerard Pique, Frenkie de Jong and Clement Lenglet have all signed new contracts.
Those deals will see them take a financial hit but have longer contracts, with the Catalan media putting the pay-cuts at 30-50%.
Barcelona had wanted more players to do the same, yet were met with refusals.
Mundo Deportivo reports Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba, Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezman all rejected a proposal involving pay-cuts and a longer contract.
Whilst the club continue to try and find a solution, Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent who represents Busquets and Roberto, has cut off contact.
